Thermaltake has a great-looking little case with the M9. Despite the compact mid-tower size, the ability to open up any of the nine front 5¼" bays for external access along with the ease of tool-less rail attachments gives the M9 an amount of accessibility lacking in other cases. The mesh covers allow for plenty of airflow through the front and there is no door or solid panels to contend with. If you want more cooling than the 120mm intake fan provides, Thermaltake offers their iCage accessory which basically duplicates the drive cage and fan setup that's included with the M9. The side panel duct could also be removed and an additional 80mm fan installed, and the VI1000BWS version with window includes a second vent for another 80mm, 92mm or 120mm fan. Together this provides about the best ventilation possible in a mid-tower design.

The tool-less drive rail attachments are very easy to use and work well at securing drives in place. Unfortunately the riser card attachments aren't nearly as effective. The side panel duct shares the same flimsy, loose-fit construction. But both hangups can be easily fixed by simply unscrewing the mounts and ditching the offending parts. Put some screws in your cards and mount an 80mm fan in the side panel and you're good to go. As far as the included fans go, they're very quiet indeed; you won't need a controller to throttle them down at all.

The fit and finish on the M9 is excellent, everything we have come to expect from Thermaltake. Although definitely not a high-gloss black, the flat appearance actually matches the mesh front better and is very durable and resistant to scratches. The blue lighting on the front panel is subtle, and the foam inserts behind the mesh covers give the fan LED's a muted glow. The version with the side panel window is definitely more up your alley if you're looking for some extra bling, with a second LED fan for the exhaust and the ability to mount one more in the side.

Price-wise the M9 shows up online starting around $70, which puts it at the very bottom of Thermaltake's lineup. If you're looking for something in a mid-tower size this one is sure to please, and for the features and quality of a Thermaltake case, the M9 is a tough one to beat.

OCIA.net has awarded the Thermaltake M9 our Seal of Approval.